How do I use essential oils safely?
- Add a few drops of oil to a warm bath
- Make a hot or cold compress by soaking a towel or cloth in water, adding essential oils, and then applying to the desired area
- Add oil to a lotion or moisturizer and then apply to skin
What are the essential oil safety guidelines?
Safety Guidelines for Topical Use
- Avoid irritation and sensitization. Oils that are irritating can also be sensitizing, and different individuals may react to any given essential oil.
- Avoid Phototoxicity. ...
- Dilute, Dilute, Dilute! ...
- Oils with Special Cautions: Use Carefully. ...
Is it safe to consume essential oils?
Right now, most essential oils are considered safe with proper use, and various studies report health benefits of different essential oils. That doesn't mean they're without drawbacks, though.
Are essential oils OK to use?
Some essential oils are known allergens and skin irritants. As of this writing, there's not enough evidence about essential oils to make a definitive "safe" and "not safe" list. Right now, most essential oils are considered safe with proper use, and various studies report health benefits of different essential oils.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Eating Essential Oils?
The harmful effects can vary from interactions with medications to damage to the digestive system and internal organs.
What Is An Essential Oil?
Derived from plants, essential oils are substances extracted via pressure and/or steam that aren’t soluble in water. They are concentrated solutions of the aroma of various parts of plants. These oils are used in a variety of ways, including aromatherapy and topical treatments. The potent oils are often mixed with water and diffused into the air, or mixed with neutral “carrier” oils or lotions to be administered topically. Oils can even be mixed with other household items such as witch hazel, Epsom salts and rubbing alcohol to make cleaning and beauty products.
What About Essential Oil-Based Cleaning Products?
Oils like lemon, eucalyptus and tea tree can be used to help cleanse surfaces in your kitchen and elsewhere in your home.
What is a potent oil?
They are concentrated solutions of the aroma of various parts of plants. These oils are used in a variety of ways, including aromatherapy and topical treatments. The potent oils are often mixed with water and diffused into the air, or mixed with neutral “carrier” oils or lotions to be administered topically.
How much is essential oil worth in 2020?
The essential oil industry continues to gain momentum and is projected to be worth upwards of 18.5 million dollars by the end of 2020. Along with this boom has come a tsunami of influencers and companies touting the benefits of aromatic blends. Essential oils are everywhere — but just because they can lift the overall mood ...
Is diffuser safe for aromatherapy?
Diffusion for aromatherapy seems to be the safest way to partake in essential oil goodness unless the the FDA has deemed it otherwise. “It's important to note that the safety of an essential oil used for aromatherapy can be different for the safety of a food or dietary supplement ingredient… so it’s never a good idea to ingest essential oils (or any other products) for aromatherapy (just like you wouldn’t want to ingest a perfume or makeup),” says Wallace.
Do essential oils have FDA approval?
Most essential oils are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While some brands claim their products are “therapeutic,” there is no official definition to this term. As food science expert Dr. Taylor Wallace explains, this is not a one-size-fits-all process. “There are certainly many essential oils marketed with ‘aromatherapy’ claims that they will treat health problems or improve wellbeing. Depending on their intended use, the FDA may regulate these products as food ingredients, dietary supplements, cosmetics or drugs. The safety (and level of evidence used to substantiate claims) of these compounds can substantially differ based on which category they fall under.”
What are the benefits and drawbacks of essential oils?
Here are just a few more examples of the benefits and drawbacks of essential oils: Lavender is known to help with sleep and relaxation but , as mentioned above, it could act as an endocrine disruptor. Eucalyptus is soothing but it can cause seizures if ingested.
What to do if you are allergic to essential oils?
If you suspect you're having an allergic reaction to an essential oil, stop using the product, Dr. Jain says, and consult your allergist or dermatologist for further evaluation.
What is the role of essential oils in hormones?
Romy Block, board-certified endocrinologist and co-founder of Vous Vitamin, says essential oils can act as endocrine disruptors, which means they interfere with the natural production of your hormones.
How to use essential oils on pets?
If you want to use essential oils on your pet, talk to your vet. Stop diffusing essential oils that give you allergy symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing or water eyes. Try a patch test before using an essential oil topically. To perform a patch test, place a diluted drop of oil onto a small portion of your skin.
Why is it bad to diffuse lavender?
Dr. Block advises against diffusing lavender and tea tree oils because of the potential complications, particularly in children and teens. Pregnant women and people who have hormone-related medical conditions such as diabetes should talk to their doctors before using essential oils topically or with a diffuser.
How to test essential oil?
Try a patch test before using an essential oil topically. To perform a patch test, place a diluted drop of oil onto a small portion of your skin. If you develop dermatologic symptoms, wash it off and don't use that oil on your skin.
Why is it hard to make a black and white list of essential oils?
Again, it's hard to make a black-and-white list of essential oils to avoid. Because people can have different reactions to different oils: Only the individual can know which ones to avoid. A quick internet search will return hundreds of lists that don't match, so it's really up to you to vet the risks of the essential oil you want to use and to use them safely.
What Happens When Ingesting Essential Oils?
Upon ingestion, essential oils come into direct contact with vital organs such as the tongue , mouth, esophagus, stomach, etc. Because essential oils are miscible with fats, they attach to the mucous membrane which lines these organs. [1]
How much lavender oil is in 250 lbs?
For example, 250 pounds of steam distilled Lavender may yield 1 pound of Lavender essential oil. If you convert this number down to a drop, you will find that there is about ⅓ oz of lavender plant per drop of Lavender essential oil.
How many drops of essential oil to a 60 gallon tub?
To give you an idea of what a ppm looks like, add 7-8 drops to a 60-gallon tub. Most people do not have the equipment necessary to measure essential oils in parts per million in their home kitchens, and therefore are incapable of using essential oils “under the conditions of its intended use” as described by the FDA.
Is Edens Garden essential oil pure?
At Edens Garden, we’re passionate about high-quality, pure essential oil, which is why we go to great lengths to ensure all of our oils are 100% pure therapeutic grade. By GC/MS testing each batch of oil we offer and having each report approved by essential oil chemists and aromatherapists, we’re able to guarantee top-grade EOs.
Can essential oils be casually ingested?
Nutmeg. Peppermint. Vanilla. Many times, people justify that essential oils can be casually ingested because this list exists. However, the food and drink industry has set specific percentages at which these oils can be used as a flavoring agent either for safety, flavor intensity, or a combination of the two.
Can you mix essential oils with water?
Oil and water do not mix. Therefore, when you add essential oils to water and drink them, the undiluted oil drops will come into direct contact with the mucous membrane lining your tongue, throat, esophagus, stomach, etc, causing injuries like those above.
Can lavender oil be taken internally?
Gentle oils such as Lavender have caused unwanted side effects when ingested, so imagine the damage that an oil with heightened safety precautions, such as Oregano, can and have done when taken internally. Here are a few such injuries caused by internal use that have been recorded.
What essential oil is good for lemon?
Love the fresh flavor of lemon? By using Lemon Vitality essential oil, you can get the bright, zesty taste and antioxidant benefits of lemon in your daily life.
What is the best way to keep lemon oil from floating?
I love a drop of Lemon Plus (the Canadian version of Vitality) in my water. Here's a tip...to keep the oil from floating on the top add a drop of Stevia. The Stevia helps to blend the oil into the water.
Is Vitality oil safe for internal use?
Hi, Ann! All of our Vitality oils are labeled safe for internal consumption . So don't worry!
Is Young Living Vitality oil safe?
Though many have used oils that are not in the Young Living Vitality line internally with success, current regulatory guidelines and research indicate that the Vitality line is an up-to-date offering of essential oils that are safe for ingestion when label directions are followed.
Can you mix oil and water?
I have read that it is not safe to ingest oils "mixed" in water. Oil and water do not mix, and the oil can float on top and travel undiluted into your mouth and esophagus/stomach and cause damage. see more. −. +.
Is lavender vitality safe to drink?
Hi Jm. Lavender Vitality is labeled for internal use, so it is a safe (and delicious!) addition to your tea. Thanks for stopping by!
Can peppermint be added to a supplement?
Follow label instructions and add Peppermint to your daily dietary supplements to support normal digestion.*
Why do people ingest essential oils?
If essential oils are made for their scent, why would anyone want to ingest them? Galper says people do it for “a more concentrated delivery” through digestion.
Can you swallow tea tree oil?
Keep in mind, certain oils can be especially toxic and should never be swallowed, like tea tree, eucalyptus, and wintergreen.
Is it safe to take essential oils?
Essential oils may be natural, but that doesn’t mean they’re inherently safe. “The molecules and chemical constituents that make up essential oils are irritating to mucous membrane tissue,” Galper says. Swallowing essential oils can burn the mucosa in your mouth, esophagus, gut lining, and beyond in the digestive tract. Dr. Lin says nausea, stomach pain and neurological discomfort like nerve pain and numbness can also occur, especially if you take too much. Like any kind of medicine, it can affect different people in different ways, too.
Can you dilute essential oil with water?
Since water and oil don’t mix, diluting drops in water won’t work either—it’s just another one-way ticket to irritation. Instead, Galper says you can take one or two drops with a carrier oil, honey, or in capsules with MCT oil or vegetable glycerin, so the essential oil dissolves and won’t be damaging to your system.
Can you ingest essential oils?
Sniffing and slathering are practically routine—but can you really ingest essential oils? The answer, essentially, is: Yes but, maybe you shouldn’t. Safely ingesting certain essential oils is wrought with caveats and debate, and it’s not recommended without guidance from a trained herbalist.
Can you drink straight essential oil?
Drinking drops of straight essential oil is a no-go. Just think: When you put them on your skin, you know to use a carrier oil to avoid irritation. Now consider the fact that our digestive tract is much more sensitive. “We have to have that same mindfulness if we’re going to swallow it,” Galper says.
Is essential oil safe?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) keeps a list of essential oils that are Generally Recognized As Safe, but this list isn’t gospel. The FDA also doesn’t regulate essential oils, which makes choosing one even trickier. Look for a brand void of additives from a company that’s transparent about where they grow their plants and how the oils are extracted.
What happens if you drink essential oils?
Repeated use of drinking essential oils in this manner can cause serious conditions. Some effects include:
What essential oils are good for detox?
Has someone ever told you to do any of these? Lemon in water for immune support. Peppermint in water for good for digestion. Grapefruit in water for weight loss. Lime in water for detoxification.
Is it safe to use essential oils?
It is absolute nonsense and quite dangerous to ingest essential oils to prevent illness. Instead, eat healthy, use the foods in your cooking, have freshly squeezed lemon in your water, and use ginger and turmeric in your cooking and teas.
Do essential oils dissolve in water?
Essential oils, as well as carrier oils, do not dissolve in water, so what happens when you put essential oils in water (without a soluble)? As you are swallowing your water, the essential oil molecules look at your mucosa in your mouth esophagus, stomach and say, “Goodbye water! Hello, mucosa.”.
Is lemon essential oil the same as lemon juice?
They are extremely concentrated. One drop of lemon essential oil is not like one drop of lemon juice.
Who wrote the Complete Guide to Aromatherapy?
Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Brisbane: International Centre of Holysitc Aromatherapy, 2003. Print.
Can you put essential oils in water and drink it?
When I was a kid in elementary school (second grade to be exact), I learned that oil and water do not mix. This, my friends, includes essential oils. Essential oils are fat-loving, aka lipophilic. They do not love water. Essential oils, as well as carrier oils, do not dissolve in water, so what happens when you put essential oils in water (without a soluble)? As you are swallowing your water, the essential oil molecules look at your mucosa in your mouth esophagus, stomach and say, “Goodbye water! Hello, mucosa.” Your mucosa is the fat they love and they go right to it!
Why do we need essential oils?
The key to ingesting essential oils, and why we should consider them in our natural health regimens, is that they combat pathogens (harmful microorganisms), are a source of antioxidants (needed to prevent and cure disease), and have been shown to contain advanced healing properties in addition to cancer cell cytotoxicity amongst other things .
Where are essential oils found?
Also known as “volatile organic compounds,” essential oils are chemical compounds found in the bark, leaves, flowers, roots and rinds of plants, fruit, and trees.
How many drops of essential oil per dish?
Culinary Doses (1-3 drops per dish) The safest way to ingest essential oils is in culinary use. Cooking with essential oils is an extremely safe way to enjoy the health benefits as well as enhance the flavor of your food. Here are some ideas of how to get started.
What oil to use for capsules?
Use the pipette to fill the remaining space in the capsule with coconut or olive oil.
Can essential oils be used internally?
In the words of NAHA, “ Essential oils may be applied on the skin (dermal application), inhaled, diffused or taken internally.
Is essential oil safe for humans?
The fact remains that there are no scientific, evidence-based, anatomical, physiological or logical reasons to say that all essentials oils are unsafe for human consumption. Paradoxically, aromatherapists are still at odds with each other on this point, which confuses the casual essential oil user all the more.
Is peppermint good for GERD?
Meaning this: even though peppermint is great for IBS and nausea, it should not be used for GERD. The University of Maryland Medical Center specifically warns that peppermint tea and essential oil can relax the esophageal sphincter and pose risks for those with reflux.
